忌讳 jìhuì taboo
taboo; to avoid as taboo; to abstain from
How to remember 忌讳: 忌 jealous + 讳 taboo = taboo.
Characters
How it is used
- A taboo, or to shun something as taboo - 中国人过年忌讳说'死' (Zhōngguó rén guònián jìhuì shuō 'sǐ') Chinese people avoid saying 'death' at New Year.
- Covers both the noun (a taboo/sensitive point) and verb (to avoid out of superstition or offense), broader than the specifically superstitious 迷信.
- Common with 说、提、问; 有忌讳 (have things one is touchy about).